Wembanyama’s NBA Finals Debut Falls Short

SAN ANTONIO — It’s almost startling how quickly this moment arrived.

The buzz surrounding 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama has been palpable, echoing the level of excitement we felt when LeBron James entered the league.

Watching him command the paint, almost as if he was playing with a toy model, made it seem inevitable.

As tears welled in his eyes after the pivotal game, it hit me just how much this moment meant to him.

It took Michael Jordan seven seasons to get the Bulls to their first finals, while LeBron and Kobe Bryant did it in four. Wembanyama, on the other hand, has reached this level in just three years.

But how did he perform in his inaugural finals game?

Well, it was… not so great.

In the Spurs’ 105-95 loss to the Knicks, Wembanyama tallied 26 points, 12 rebounds, three blocked shots, and, unfortunately, six turnovers.

Offensively, he seemed to drift through much of the game, making only six field goals—half of what Jalen Brunson achieved. He missed seven of his nine 3-point attempts and ended up shooting just 28.5 percent overall.

“I’ll figure it out,” Wembanyama mentioned. “I just didn’t feel well tonight. It can’t be more complicated than that.”

It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that he began to find his rhythm, hitting three of his field goals and securing seven rebounds. But with just over a minute left and the Spurs holding a narrow lead, he faltered, allowing Josh Hart to steal the ball and continuing to miss critical 3-pointers.

As someone touted as the league’s next big star—someone unafraid to take on the mantle previously held by LeBron—he seemed to shy away from the moment. It felt as if he didn’t fully seize the opportunity.

The performance, well, was less than iconic. That was unexpected. It served as a reminder that he’s still only 22.

Wembanyama clearly holds himself responsible for the loss. The Spurs had led by as much as 13 points before the Knicks came back to tie the game at 76-76 heading into the final quarter.

He played well in terms of numbers but didn’t quite dominate as he’s capable of doing.

The Knicks scored 50 points in the paint, an area where Wembanyama usually excels. He wasn’t the imposing force we’ve come to expect on both ends of the court, and nearly half his points came from the free-throw line.

“You need to force him toward the rim, whether that’s rolling or in transition,” noted Spurs coach Mitch Johnson. “There should be pressure at the rim.”

Before Game 1, NBA commissioner Adam Silver expressed low expectations, though highlights of Wembanyama had already captured widespread attention.

But, honestly, no one can stop this momentum.

Not even Wembanyama himself.

He is at the forefront now—he is the present and the future.

He has revitalized a city that lives and breathes basketball victories, putting one of the league’s smaller market teams at the center of the spotlight. He earned the Defensive Player of the Year award and finished third in the MVP race.

He also eliminated the reigning champion Thunder in the Western Conference Finals, surpassing even two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. His emergence on the scene came much sooner than anyone anticipated.

Yet, in this first finals game, he struggled under the spotlight.

Maybe it was nerves. Perhaps fatigue played a role, considering he was coming off an exhausting seven-game series, while the Knicks had enjoyed over a week of rest after their dominant Eastern Conference victory.

Whatever the case, it’s clear the Knicks are eager to capitalize on this opportunity—it’s their first finals appearance in 27 years.

Wembanyama is acutely aware of the expectations resting on his shoulders. He hopes he can rise to the occasion, especially as those expectations are beginning to feel daunting.

The city stands firmly behind him. Many businesses are displaying Spurs signs, and pedestrians greet each other with enthusiastic shouts of “Gospers!” Legendary Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was in attendance, alongside former greats like Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker.

But beyond just local support, the world is paying close attention to Wembanyama.

Most importantly, he seems to judge his performance more critically than anyone else.

And, frankly, he was not satisfied.

“When we made a bad play, especially when I made one, it really hurt us,” he reflected. “That’s why I’m not worried. We will improve. I will improve.”